Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1887-01-08
"gHkRk was s.tp -
a Reply TO the Query That wsA rrorounded
byJ. n. D.Concernins an oId song.

Reply To the Query That wsA rrorounded
by n, pConcerning an'Old song
We have received number of replies to
the query in these columns d tew days sgo
about an old song which mothers were wont
To- sing their babes To sleep hny aud moie
years ago From the several answers the
following is selected a. the mod complete
version oT the old.time poem;
LANC,srgR. January Z, lSSl
To the Editors OF the lNruilGENtER
In answer to the communication signed J. II.
u, ihtnk can help him out Ho q. IL. ~ vs.
mistaken IN rcgard to tho opening lines aud
wnicXrldn Here Il Is as llcarucd It when u
school boy forty years ago. q. II, \.
JAMES siRp
sons OF freedom liston to me-
And yc daughters, too, give olr
You sad ana mournful story
As was ever told shall hear.
uuu you know. his troops surrendered
And ddctcnselcss iettthe West.
Ouiykly then uur troops assembled
lhc invader toresisL
Tender were the scenes of uartins
Mothers wrung their hands and cried
MAidens wcpt their swains IN scvroJ
Fathers strove their hearts to hide
| Among the troops that marched tn lrlv
We're the kingston volunteer.
| Captain Thomas them commanded
| 10 protect our West frontiers
| Bat there's one among the number
TAU and graceful in hts mien;
tirm hts stop. his look uudaunted,
scarce uobler youth was seen.
Many tried to say. Farewell, james"
| waived her hand, but nothing spoke,
| Farewell Blvd, may Heaven protect SuA
Prom the rest At parting broke
| one sweet kiss he suatc ched from MAY,
Nta .g,Ff ,. f..Hft
| Pressed his fathers hand and lett them
| For Lake Erie's distant shoro.
| soon he came whore noble Perry
| Had assembled all his fleet
| Hero the gallant Bird enlisted.
| Hoping soon the foe TO meet
wherc IS Bird The battle RACES
| l. he IN the strife or no?
| i his step yet firm and manly
Dare he meet the hostile toe
All behold him, see him, Perry,
In the stlf-sane ship they fight
Though his Lessmates fail around him
Nothing can bis soul Albright.
But behold ball has struck him
see the crimson current dow,
d" Leave the Deck" exclaimed hl'Nn Tony
no cried Bird "l will not Eu.
"ucre on deck took my station
| SeeU will Bird his colors ny,
| III stand you gallant captain
TN We conquer or We die.
There he fought though faint an! herdlu-.
TIL our stars and stripes AROSE
| Victory having crowned our efforts
AL triumphant Ger our foes.
And did Bird receive apensiou
was he to his friends restored
No; nor never to his bosom
CI3sped the maid his heart ad"gci
Butthsre came most dismal titiugs
Prom Lake Erie's distant shore,
Better that II Bird had perishud
Midst the battles awful roar.
Dearest parents" said the lottur
| This will bring SAD new 20 you
DO not mourn your hrst beloved
Though this brings his last adicu
"Imu-t sufler for dcscrtins
From ;he Brig Siasara.
BEAD the letter, brothers, sisters,
'Tis the last you'll have from ur.
sad and gloomy was the morning
Bird WAS ordered out to die
| where's the - 5ast not dead to pity,
But for him would heaye "a sigh
see him march and bear his ivt,ers,
i Harsh the claRk upon his car
But his stepls firm and manly
vi FOR his breast neer harborvL iy!..
Though he fought so brave at Erie,
Ie Freely Oed and nobly dared
> Let his courage plead tol mercy,
ss Let hts precious life b. spared
2 See hs kneels upon his CONN,
D. sure his death can do no good
v. Spare hun. Hark o! Sod they va shot him
m sec his bOso n streams with blood
* Farewell BIRD Farewell forever,
- friends and home he II see no more
~ Now his maugled corpse lies buried
- On Lake Erie's distant shore.